Attacks in Capital circulation and revenue
Greece and the growing re-appropriation attacks against Super Markets
Τhe saturday of May 31st 2008 was a beautiful day for the greek movement of insurrection. One action organised by a small group of comrades caused a fracture in the greek social process. On the last days a big debate was goin’ on in the streets, in the working places, cafes, houses and -in appearance only- on the tv screen. Basic products (milk,rice etc.) were becoming more and more expensive, a process which started since the introduction of the Euro currency, January 2002 and by the last months prices kept raising steeply. Peoples’ resentment concetrated during all these years of price stagnation, was so big that although grossly mediated by the TV news, forced finally the government to introduce measures that were , supposed , to control the rising of the prices, but whose actual target was to calm peoples anger down. (It is interesting to add that inflation rate was steady and did not rise, probably because of “creative” tricks due to Eu rules that oblige member-states to keep a low inflation rate)
Super Market brand owners were profiteering in a really high grade in expense of the peoples pockets and the actual resistance and pressure was rather low. Consumer unions, some newspaper articles, calls for lowering the prices, one day boycotts. But what to do?People are dependent from big Super Markets that control most of the food market and wages in Greece are rather low for eu standards (Pensions are worse) and prices were among the higher in EU. Old people, low income and the unemployed were affected most but we can say that almost all working class people and even lower middle class (petit bourgeois) were having a hard time to get around . So the government announces on the 28 of May “41 measures against price stagnation”.
True is the politicians did not really cared. “So what are they going to do,anyway?”. Opposition parties do nothing but talk, and people rely on the media “apparent” opposition. But it is in these times were nothing seem to happen, when the forces of insurrection that are exorcised to stay away from the fight, make their sudden and unexpected appearance in the scene. And nothing is the same as before..
On Saturday May 31st 2008 a group of comrades, wearing their masks entered a big Super Market in the city center of Athens, re-appropriated products, carried them to a street fruit-market nearby (mostly old and lower-income people go there) and distributed the products to them. Oil, cheese, milk, detergents,shampoos … The action met great correspondence from the people. Clapping applauses, exclamations, whistles. The products disappeared within seconds. The manifesto of the action said : “The game is set. We don’t want to be a part of this fake game, with the governments’ communication tricks, the oppositions’ abstract talking about some “bad” people making profit and the shit of the media. We put into practice our own measures against price stagnation. Re-appropriation now. Everything is stolen from us, Everything belongs to us… That was it…
The attacks start to spread widely. In June three more actions against Super Markets took place in Athens. One more in July. Then came the summer (movements have holidays?) and on September actions started again. Two happened in Thessaloniki , the second biggest city in Greece. One attack was planned on the day when the Prime Minister traditionally addresses the nation , from the International Expo of Thessaloniki and speaks about the government policy of the year to come. Last week three such actions took place (15,16,18 October). In most of the attacks products are distributed among people in street markets, to people passing-by and on one action the loot was left on a central Athens square where many immigrants live and at the exits of the metro station there.
These actions are really popular among people. It would not be an exaggeration to say that people wish every time they go to a street market for an action like that to take place. Media can’t hide the facts , but try to distort them. They like to call us “Robin Hoods”. We are not at all “Robin Hoods”, it is not about charity. The issue at stake here is the diffusion of such “illegal” practices among the society, so that other social groups adopt such practices to defend social autonomy and interests. To debunk the normality that orders “Work-Buy-Pay-Sleep-Shut Up”. To make people collaborators in “illegal” attacks against capitalist order. To promote Mutual Aid.
The Police is really confused. Cashiers have a short work-break. Super Market owners feel anxious about the situation. People have fun.
So what about us Comrades. In Balkans, East and West Europe, States, Latin America, Oceania, everywhere? Can we plan something? What are we waiting for? Capitalist crisis is already here and we are the ones to pay again for the fucking banks and their tricks. The plan is simple, believe us. Two douzins of comrades, masks , sunglasses, an appointment. You converge suddenly and you attack. Some people watching, some others filling the trolleys, everybody distributing them. It is simple, it is direct, dangerous for the enemy and really amuzing. We wish you nice actions and lot of success.
Make Plans
Be Ready